It’s certainly understandable if you were a little lax in your NFL viewing this weekend. With the third and fourth games of one of the wildest World Series in recent memory playing out on Saturday and Sunday, there was plenty to distract you.
Thankfully, your pigskin expert remained glued to the action happening on the gridiron and is as ready as ever to deliver a weekly dose of fantasy football wisdom. So, if you slacked a little on your research, you definitely came to the right place. We’re trying not to obstruct your chances of fantasy victory in this week’s trends.
Dylan Sinn is a freelance contributor for CraveOnline Sports. You can follow him on Twitter @DylanSinn or “like” CraveOnline Sports on Facebook.
Photo Credit: Getty
Week 9 Who's Up-Down?
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Andre Ellington RB – Arizona
Ellington is the third player on this week’s list that has seen an increase in workload thanks to injuries around him. This will likely be a common theme as the season wears on and injuries mount. In Ellington’s case, the injury in question is that of Rashard Mendenhall’s toe. The rookie had 15 carries in Week 8 with Mendenhall on the sidelines, after having no more than seven in any previous game.
The 24-year old made the most of his opportunity, gaining 154 yards on the ground and scoring a touchdown on top of it. Ellington has been consistently good no matter how many touches he’s gotten this season, averaging 7.7 yards per carry overall. Mendenhall returns this week against Houston’s 27th-ranked rush defense, but the former first round pick has averaged only 3.1 yards on his carries this season, so the former Clemson standout shouldn’t see too much of a drop in usage.
The Cardinals face four of the league’s six worst rush defenses in their next five games, so the South Carolina native should have some big games in the coming weeks. He’s owned in just 20 percent of ESPN leagues right now, so he’s a valuable piece that can be found on the waiver wire.
Arrow Pointing: UP
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Harry Douglas WR – Atlanta
Much like Nelson, Douglas is currently putting up huge fantasy numbers because he has become more or less his team’s only option at wide-out. With both Julio Jones and Roddy White sidelined for the Falcons, Douglas has become Matt Ryan’s favorite target almost by default. Before Jones was lost for the season with a foot injury, Douglas’ highest target total for a single game was five. In the two weeks since the all-pro was placed on injured reserve, the former Louisville star has seen 25 passes thrown his way.
The 29-year old Douglas caught 19 of those 25 passes and racked up 270 yards in those two games. He also found the end zone for the first time this season and seems to be destined for continuing high target totals as the Falcons try to salvage their season.
With Atlanta’s defense and (22nd in yards per game) and running game (32nd) both struggling mightily, it’s likely Atlanta will have to play from behind much of the time, meaning even more chances for Douglas and the passing game. Douglas is still only owned in 80 percent of ESPN leagues despite a significant jump in usage this week, so you can still pick him up if you hurry. This is Atlanta’s no. 1 receiver going forward.
Arrow Pointing: UP
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Jake Locker QB – Tennessee
Locker missed Tennessee’s games in Week 5 and Week 6, before returning in Week 7 to put up 326 yards and two touchdowns against the eighth-ranked 49ers defense. Though the Titans lost that game, Locker certainly seems to be making a leap in his third season in the NFL, with career highs in completion percentage (61.8) and Total QBR (67.8).
Locker did throw an interception against the 49ers, but that was his first pick of the whole season and he hasn’t really had a below average game since Week 1 in a win over the Steelers. When you throw in Locker’s ability to make plays with his legs (he’s rushed for 127 yards and averaged 7.1 yards per carry), you have a quarterback who is quickly developing into a star. He’s still only owned in 5.4 percent of ESPN leagues, and has games against St. Louis and Jacksonville in the coming weeks. Pick him up if you need a lift at quarterback.
Arrow Pointing: UP
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Jordy Nelson WR – Green Bay
Calling the Packers’ pass-catching corps depleted would be an understatement at this point, with Randall Cobb, Jermichael Finley and James Jones all sidelined. Enter Jordy Nelson. The sixth-year receiver has stepped up in a big way, ranking seventh in the league in receiving yards (649) and fifth in touchdown catches (7).
Four of those TD receptions have come in the last three weeks as the Packers have become increasingly decimated at receiver and Aaron Rodgers has looked Nelson’s way more often. In the last two weeks alone, the Kansas State product has caught 12 passes on 14 targets for 167 yards and three TDs. Granted one of those games was against the train wreck from Minnesota, but there’s no question that Nelson is an elite receiver right now. The Packers face the Bears’ porous pass defense on Monday Night Football in Week 9, so expect Nelson to have another big game.
Arrow Pointing: UP
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Marques Colston WR – New Orleans
Here is Colston’s combined line over the past three games: six receptions for 44 yards and zero touchdowns. That alone should be enough to make fantasy owners pause, but the former Hofstra star’s struggles go beyond just the last handful of games. The eighth-year receiver hasn’t caught a touchdown pass since Week 1 and has failed to break the 100-yard barrier in any game this season
Even worse for Colston, he hasn’t been targeted more than eight times in any of New Orleans’ games, a number far too low for fantasy owners counting on him to be the Saints’ top WR. Without a star-quality game on his ledger in 2013, it might be time for fantasy owners to bench Colston until Drew Brees regains some trust in him. In the meantime, you could do worse than Kenny Stills, who has caught three TD passes from Brees in the last two weeks, as a (hopefully) temporary replacement.
Arrow Pointing: DOWN
